Unlike previous years’ presidential debates, this one was more boxing match than civil discourse — with both candidates speaking over one another, both constantly ignoring moderators and frustrating every attempt to reign them to order.

In the unruly — though often entertaining — face-off, the two candidates characterized each other on-air as serial liars, clueless on issues; wildly out of touch with French voters; as “an arrogant smirking banker” and “the high priestess of fear.” The clashes put some commentators in mind of the bitter rivalry between 2016 American presidential candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The intense exchange between Le Pen and Macron ran well over its scheduled two-and-a-half hour length, with both candidates finishing strong but neither delivering a clear knockout punch. (Le Pen, perhaps, came closest with her one-liner, below, concerning German Chancellor Angela Merkel.)

2. Once the cameras were on, however, Macron — who in the run-up had promised a “hand-to-hand combat” debate — came out swinging

“You are the heiress of a name, a political party, of a system, which has prospered for years and years off the back of the French people’s anger,” he said.

Continuing pursuit, he described Le Pen’s platform as one that “aims to live in fear, amid lies. It’s what’s fed your father and the French far-right for decades … We have to leave the system which helped create you. You live off it. You are its parasite.”

Stunned into a corner, Le Pen could only repeat, “Very classy, very classy,” at least six times.

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